Breech-loading bar feed mechanism



April 10, 1951 B. c. HARNEY 2,548,735

BREECH LOADING BAR FEED MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1947 INVENTOR:

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m Z W W 7 3 M 7 w 4 ,w w 9 V i w h 1 g W Patented Apr. 10, 1951 BREECH-LOADING BAR FEED MECHANISM Bernard C. Harney, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Lipe-Rollway Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 5, 1947, Serial N0. 759,173

1 Claim.

This invention relates to pneumatic bar feed mechanisms for automatic metal working machines, which mechanism includes a pair of parallel feed tubes, one of which is alined with the spindle of the metal working machine while the bar is being fed, and the other of which is out of alinement therewith in order to be loaded with a new bar, and more particularly it relates to breech loading bar feeds.

-It has for its object a breech block and carrier therefor which is mounted in alinement with the tube alined with the spindle of the machine and remains in this position, but has an opening and closing movement to permit shifting of the tube carrier to carry the tube in alinement with the spindle, when empty, out of alinement therewith, and out of alinement with the breech block in order to be loaded, and the other loaded tube into alinement with the spindle and the breech block so that when the breech block is again closed, the new bar can be fed by pressure behind a piston movable from the breech block through the spindle and to the tools of the metal working machine.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention there are two sets of tubes, one set being arranged in alinement with the spindles of a multi-spindle machine, while the other set is out of alinement therewith in position to be loaded.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, and partly in section, of this bar feed mechanism, the contiguous portion of the head of a metal working machine being also shown.

Figure 2 is an elevation looking to the right in Figure 1, one set of tubes being shown as alined with the spindles, and the other set out of alinement with the spindles, and the position of the first set, when shifted out of alinement with the spindles, being indicated in broken lines.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the control and timing mechanism for the power mechanism which shifts the tube carrier, the

' breech block carrier, and the control of the flow of pressure, as compressed air, to the breech blocks and the tubes alined therewith and with the spindles of the machine, the flow of vacuum to the same for withdrawing the pistons back into the breech blocks when the bars are fed to the limit of their movement.

This breech loading stock bar feed mechanism comprises, as a whole, a pair, or a pair of sets of, parallel feed tubes, 2. carrier therefor, a breech block common to both tubes, or sets of tubes, that is, one breech block, or set of blocks, serves both tubes, or set of tubes, the tube carrier being mounted to shift to carry either tube, or set, out of alinement with the breech block, or blocks, and the other tube into alinement with the breech block, a carrier for the breech block, or blocks, mounted to shift relative to the tube, or tubes, to open and close the breech end, or ends, of the tube, or tubes, alined therewith, a feed piston initially located in the breech block, or in each block, and movable into the tube, or tubes, alined therewith, the breech ends of the tube, or tubes, are closed to feed the bars through the tubes, and suitable mechanism for controlling and timing the shifting of the carriers, the flow of motive fluid to the breech block, or blocks, behind the pistons, and the flow of vacuum to the breech block to withdraw the pistons into the breech blocks.

In the drawings, I designates the head stock of a metal working machine having a plurality of hollow rotating spindles 2 mounted parallel to each other and one above the other in a vertical plane. The metal working machine may be of any well known construction and, as well known, includes a stop adjustable various distances axially from the collet at the end of the spindle, against which stop the bars are fed after each machining and cutting-on operation. Also, it will be understood that after each cutting 01f operation, the bars are fed by air pressure behind the pistons in the tubes until the bars again come up against the stops.

I I and I2 designate sets of feed tubes mounted on diverging frame arms I3 and I 4 of a tube carrier, which also includes a rock shaft I5 mounted in suitable bearings 15 in a base H, the frame arms I3 and i4 extending at difierential radial angles from the axis of the shaft I5. Hence, in the carrier here illustrated, the carrier shifts about a horizontal axis parallel to the tubes.

The carrier is movable about its axis to carry one set of tubes, as II, into alinement with the spindles 2, and the other set, as I2, out of alinement therewith. When the tubes II are in alinement with the spindles, the tubes I2 are at one side of the vertical plane of the axis of the rock shaft I5, as to the left, Figure 2, and when the carrier is rocked so that the tubes I2 are in alinement with the spindles of the machine, the tubes II are tothe right of said vertical plane or central position, as shown in broken lines in Figure 2.

Thev machine here illustrated is of the breech loading type and there is one set of breech blocks for both sets of tubes I I and I2, and they are in line with the set of tubes II or I2 in central position and alined with the spindles of the machine.

I8 designates the breech blocks which are mounted on a carrier l9 shiftable to open and close the breech ends of the tubes H or l2. The carrier I8 is mounted to have a fore and aft rectilinear movement to carry the breech blocks into and out of abutting engagement with the outer or breech ends of the tubes II or l2. As here shown, the carrier I9 is slidable in ways 20 on a superposed frame 2| on the base IT. The breech blocks l8 are tubular and long enough to receive push pistons 22 which are located in the breech blocks when the tubes are empty and in loading position, that is, out of alinement with the breech blocks when new bars can be loaded through the open breech ends of the tubes. These pistons may be of any suitable construction.

The tube carrier is shifted from central position to either side of center by suitable power means as a reversible piston and cylinder motor 23, the piston rod 24 of which is connected to a depending rock arm 25 on the shaft l5. The piston and cylinder motor is located on the base I! and is an oscillating one, the cylinder being pivoted at 26 to the base H. The breech block carrier is shifted rectilinearly also by air power and, as here shown, it is shifted by a cylinder and piston motor 2'! having its piston rod 28 pivoted at 29 to the joint connecting two toggle links, one of which links 30 is pivoted at 3| to the frame 2|, and the other 32 of which links is pivoted at 33 to the breech block carrier. When the toggle is folded, as shown in Figure 1, the breech block carrier is withdrawn to the left, separating from the outer ends of the tubes H or |2, whichever set is in alinement with the spindle. When the toggle is straightened, the carrier shifts to close the breech, that is, the carrier is shifted to the right, Figure 1.

A system or means is provided for timing and controlling the flow of air to the cylinder and piston motors 23, 21, and to the breech block to actuate the pistons out of the breech blocks and through the tubes to feed the bars, and also for controlling the application of vacuum to the breech blocks to withdraw the pistons back into the breech blocks when the bars have been consumed to a maximum extent. As the power used is air under pressure, or vacuum, the control system includes valves. The operating means for the valves are electrical, or electro-magnets controlled by a master switch in their circuits.

The control system is shown in Figure 3 wherein the parts thereof are shown in the position assumed when the operating member, or master switch, is in its position assumed to withdraw the pistons back into the breech blocks after the bars have been fed a maximum distance and the remnant too short for further use. Upon shifting of the operating or control member 4|, which is a switch arm, from pressure position designated 1? to vacuum position designated V, the current passes from a suitable source through wire 42 to the windings 43 of a solenoid, the core of which is connected to a valve head 44 in the valve casing 45 and when the winding 43 is energized, the valve head 44 is opened permitting the vacuum through the pipe 46, connected to a suitable exhauster or tank not shown, to be efiective through the open valve head 44, pipe 41 and pipe 48, in headers 48A of the breech blocks I9, thus withdrawing the pistons 22 into the breech blocks. This movement of the pistons into the breech blocks closes a switch 49 in the wire 42 and connected in a wire 50 which is connected to the windings of a solenoid, the core of which through wire 6|, through winding of solenoid 19,-

carries a double, or two-way valve head 52 and 53 opening the valve head 53 to the flow of air under pressure from supply pipe 54, through the valve casing 55 and pipe 56 to the upper end of the cylinder and piston motor 21, thus breaking, or folding, the toggle links 30, 32, downward, withdrawing the breech block carrier rearwardly to open the breech ends of tubes I, which are alined with the spindles 2, the air in the rear of the piston of the motor 2! exhausting the atmosphere at 51.

At the same time that the circuit is closed through the wire 42 by the master switch 4| being shifted to vacuum position V, the current flows from the wire 42, through a switch 58, which is normally open, but which is closed by the shifting of the breech block carrier to the left, Figure 3, when the breech ends of the tubes are opened, through wire 59 to another switch arm 60 having two positions. When in one position, shown in full lines, it establishes a circuit through wire 6|, to the solenoid 62, the core of which has two spaced valve heads 63, 64, thereon movable in the reversing valve casing 65. When so energized, air is free to flow from the source of air pressure from pipe 66 past the open valve head 64, through pipe 61, to the lower end of the cylinder and piston motor 23 and hence, shift the piston thereof upward, causing its rod to rock the shaft l5 and shift the tube carrier to carry the tubes into alinement with the spindles 2 and the tubes |2 into the position Figure 2, out of alinement with the spindles 2. Now, upon movement of the master control switch 4| from vacuum position V to pressure position P, the circuit is broken through wire 42 and solenoid 43 for vacuum valve head 44, and through switch 49 and hence through the solenoid 5| for the two-way valve heads 52, 53, so that the returning spring of valve heads 52, 53, can react, resetting the valves to close the valve head 53 and open the head 52, and hence let the air pass from pipe 54A through the valve casing 55, pipe 56A, to the lower end of the cylinder and piston motor 21, moving the piston rod 28 upward to straighten the toggle links 30, 32, and hence, shift the breech block carrier |9 to the right and close the breech ends of the tubes alined with the spindle 2. When the breech blocks are thus closed, the closing movement closes a normally open switch 69 so that when the master switch is closed in pressure position P, the current flows through the master control switch arm 4|, through wire 68, through closed switch 69, wire 10, through the windings ll of a solenoid, the core of which carries a valve head 12 in a valve casing 13, thus opening the valve head 12 permitting air under pressure to flow from a suitable source from pipe 14 past the open valve head 12, pipe 15, to the pipe 48, previously referred to, to the headers 48A of the breech blocks and urge the pistons 22 to feed the bars through the tubes The switch 69 was closed by reason of its push button or operating member 16 encountering a stop 11 on the tube carrier when the breech block carrier has been shifted to close the breech blocks by reason of the straightening of the toggle links 30 and 32. When the bars are consumed, the master switch arm 4| is again returned to vacuum position and the operation proceeds as just described, with the exception that the switch arm 60 is shifted to its dotted line position so that now the circuit closed thereby is through wire 18, instead of the core of which carries a double headed valve 89 and 8| in a casing 82, and the head 89 is opened permitting air under pressure to pass from a suitable source through pipe 83, valve casing 89, pipe 84, to the upper end of the cylinder of the motor 23, to carry the now loaded tubes l2 into alinement with the breech block spindles into position to be reloaded. The valves may be of any suitable construction and all are self returning when the operating force of the solenoid windings is released.

When the bars are loaded into the empty tubes, they are limited in their movement toward the muzzle end of the tubes by stop plates 85, 86, carried on the face of the head of the machine, thus initially locating the bars so that they are not obstructed from coming into alinement with the spindles when the tube carrier is shifted.

Also means may be provided for stopping the metal working machine when the piston has fed the maximum distance, this means being here shown as an air operated cylinder and piston device 87, the casing or cylinder 88 of which is connected by a pipe 89 to a port 99 near the muzzle end of at least one of the tubes H or l2. It will be understood that the pistons feed across the gap between the muzzle ends of the tubes and into the hollow spindle. When the rear ends of the pistons uncover the port 99, air will obviously pass to the air operated device and operate the piston therein. This piston operates a stem 9| which depresses the operating member or push button 92 of a switch in the circuit for the motor of the metal working machine. This feature itself forms no part of this invention.

If desired, the master control member or switch 4! may have an intermediate position and when it is stopped in the intermediate position, a circuit is closed through wire 94 to the windings of a solenoid 95, the core of which has a normally closed valve 96 in the exhaust pipe 9! leading from the valve casing 98, the valve casing being connected by a pipe 99 to the pipe 48 to exhaust the air from the tubes or the breech blocks when for any reason it is desired to manipulate the bar by hand without feeding the bar upon first opening the collet of the machine. This may be for any purpose as machining ofi the end of a new bar which may be uneven, or cut oif on a bias instead of straight, or for any other purpose.

Briefly in the general operation, the shifting of the master switch 41 to position V efiects the withdrawal of the pistons 22 in the breech blocks 18 and the energizing of the solenoid 5| for the reversing valve heads '52, 53, into the position shown in Figure 3, so that the breech block carrier is opened, causing the retracted piston or pistons 22 to open the switch 49 and the shifted carrier l 9 to close the switch 58. Now the switch 69 is shifted to its dotted line position, effecting the release or closing of the pressure valve head 64 and opening of the exhaust valve head 63, and opening the press valve head 80 and closing its companion exhaust head 8|, permitting air to flow to the upper end of cylinder 23, Figure 3, and actuate the piston therein to shift the empty tubes ll out of alinement with the breech blocks 18 and the reloaded tubes I2 into alinement therewith.

When the switch 49 is thus opened by the withdrawing of the pistons into the breech blocks and the shifting of the breech block carrier to the left Figure 3, the solenoid 5| is then energized and the returning spring on its core causes the valve head to cut ofi the pressure through pipe 54 and open the pipe 56 to exhaust, and open valve head 52 to pressure pipe 54A to let the air flow to the lower end of motor 21 and actuate the piston to straighten the toggle 30, 32, and close the breech blocks l8 on the reloaded tubes l2 now alined with the breech blocks.

This closing of the breech block, closes the switch 76 and resets switches 49, 58. Now upon moving the master switch 4| to pressure positions P, the current will energize the solenoid 0f the valve head 12 and open the pressure pipe 15 to the pipe 14, so that compressed air flows to the breech blocks I8 actuating the pistons therein. When the bars in the tubes i2 are consumed, the master switch 4| is moved again to vacuum position P and the switch 69 moved to full line position to open the cylinder of motor 23 to the inlet of air to shift the tube carrier to shift the now emptied tubes l2 out of alinement with the breech blocks and the now reloaded tubes I l into alinement therewith. The breech block carrier having been operated to again actuate the switches 49, 58, as before described. When desired to temporarily stop the feeding, the switch arm may be shifted to an intermediate position to close the pressure valve head 44, I2 and open the exhaust valve head 96. Upon the returning of the switch 4! to pressure position P, the feeding of the bars will be resumed.

What I claim is:

In a breech loading stock bar feed mechanism, a pair of parallel feed tubes, a carrier therefor, a breech block common to both tubes, the tube carrier being mounted to shift laterally to carry either tube out of alinement with the breech block and the other tube into alinement therewith, a carrier for the breech block mounted to shift in a direction lengthwise of the tubes to open and close the breech end of the tube alined therewith, and a feed piston initially located in the breech block and movable into the tube alined therewith when the breech is closed, in combination with an air pressure system to supply air under pressure to the breech block to actuate the feed piston and feed the stock through the alined tube, a vacuum system for creating suction in the breech block to withdraw the piston into the breech block from the alined tube, mechanism for shifting the breech block carrier, and a control for said systems and said mechamsm.

- BERNARD C. HARN'EY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,986,691 Uebelhart Jan. 1, 1935 2,321,323 Sappenfield June 8, 1943 2,327,916 Mariette Aug. 24, 1943 2,331,953 Andrews et a1 Oct. 19, 1943 2,404,161 Bower July 16, 1946 2,433,076 Weckstein Dec. 23, 1947 2,453,830 Chadwick et a1 Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 111,417 Switzerland Aug. 17, 1925 

